Marseille 2007
| Abstract #576 - Stigma, friendship networks and assessing risks: exploring the social experiences of HIV positive individuals in urban and rural South Africa | ||||
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Session: 22.3: Stigma (Parallel) on Monday @ 16.30-18.30 in Auditorium/Overflow Chaired by Heather Worth, Osman Malik Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Naeemah Abrahams - Medical Research Council, South Africa |
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| Additional Authors: Dr Naeemah Abrahams, Prof Rachel Jewkes, Ms Siphokazi Dada, Ms Busiswa Mketo, | ||||
| Aim: To explore the social experiences of a group of individuals attending an antiretroviral clinic in urban Cape Town and a group of individuals living with HIV in rural Eastern Cape, South Africa. | ||||
| Method / Issue: Qualitative research methods using in-depth interviews were conducted with 42 women and men. Between 1 and 3 interviews were conducted with each to allow for the exploration of the social experience of being HIV positive. | ||||
| Results / Comments: The potential for stigma was assessed during most interactions with others and strategies were developed during conversations to assess acceptance and trustworthiness and to pass on the message (HIV status). Those known to gossip, to frequent shebeens and situations that could lead to conflict and therefore lead to insults related to status were avoided. These social interactions occupied much of the of participants time and was found to be mentally exhausting. The concept of everyone has it (HIV) was often part of how participants discussed their acceptance of the disease and many provided details of HIV positive networks existing amongst family, friends and communities. Only those from the urban site were able to tap into these networks. Self exclusion from old friendships was common and new networks with others that were also positive (appeared positive) were sought. These were mainly reported by women attending the ART clinic. Both urban and rural participants discussed how they assessed the risk of the progression of their illness and this was determined by monitoring the illness progression among networks of ex- boyfriends and their ex-girlfriends. | ||||
| Discussion: The study has highlighted the huge burden carried by people living with HIV and showed the many strategies developed by them to decrease the impact of the disease. The epidemic in South Africa has reached the stage where many more people will require antiretroviral treatment and understanding the social experiences of HIV positive people is essential in the development of adequate responses for the success of the national treatment plan. | ||||
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